36. CHAPTER XXXVI.
WE ARE CARRIED BEFORE THE CONSUL AND CAPTAIN.
We had been inmates of the Calabooza Beretanee about
two weeks, when, one morning, Captain Bob, coming from the
bath, in a state of utter nudity, brought into the building an
armful of old tappa, and began to dress to go out.
The operation was quite simple. The tappa—of the coarsest
kind—was in one long, heavy piece; and, fastening one end to
a column of Habiscus wood, supporting the Calabooza, he went
off a few paces, and putting the other about his waist, wound
himself right up to the post. This unique costume, in rotundity
something like a farthingale, added immensely to his large
bulk; so much so, that he fairly waddled in his gait. But he
was only adhering to the fashion of his fathers; for, in the olden
time, the “Kihee,” or big girdle, was quite the mode for both
sexes. Bob, despising recent innovations, still clung to it. He
was a gentleman of the old school—one of the last of the Kihees.
He now told us, that he had orders to take us before the
consul. Nothing loth, we formed in procession; and, with
the old man at our head, sighing and laboring like an engine,
and flanked by a guard of some twenty natives, we started for
the village.
Arrived at the consular office, we found Wilson there, and
four or five Europeans, seated in a row facing us; probably
with the view of presenting as judicial an appearance as possible.
On one side was a couch, where Captain Guy reclined. He
looked convalescent; and, as we found out, intended soon to
go aboard his ship. He said nothing, but left every thing to
the consul.
The latter now rose, and, drawing forth a paper from a large
roll, tied with red tape, commenced reading aloud.
It purported to be, “The affidavit of John Jermin, first
officer of the British Colonial Barque Julia; Guy, Master;” and
proved to be a long statement of matters, from the time of
leaving Sydney, down to our arrival in the harbor. Though
artfully drawn up, so as to bear hard against every one of us,
it was pretty correct in the details; excepting, that it was
wholly silent as to the manifold derelictions of the mate himself—a
fact which imparted unusual significance to the concluding
sentence, “And furthermore, this deponent sayeth
not.”
No comments were made, although we all looked round for
the mate, to see whether it was possible that he could have
authorized this use of his name. But he was not present.
The next document produced, was the deposition of the
captain himself. As on all other occasions, however, he had
very little to say for himself, and it was soon set aside.
The third affidavit, was that of the seamen remaining aboard
the vessel, including the traitor Bungs, who, it seemed, had
turned ship's evidence. It was an atrocious piece of exaggeration,
from beginning to end; and those who signed it could
not have known what they were about. Certainly Wymontoo
did not, though his mark was there. In vain the consul commanded
silence during the reading of this paper; comments
were shouted out upon every paragraph.
The affidavits read, Wilson, who, all the while, looked as
stiff as a poker, solemnly drew forth the ship's articles from
their tin case. This document was a discolored, musty, bilious-looking
affair, and hard to read. When finished, the consul
held it up; and, pointing to the marks of the ship's company,
at the bottom, asked us, one by one, whether we acknowledged
the same for our own.
“What's the use of asking that?” said Black Dan; “Captain
Guy there, knows as well as we they are.”
“Silence, sir!” said Wilson, who, intending to produce a
suitable impression by this ridiculous parade, was not a little
mortified by the old sailor's bluntness.
A pause of a few moments now ensued; during which the
bench of judges communed with Captain Guy, in a low tone,
and the sailors canvassed the motives of the consul in having
the affidavits taken.
The general idea seemed to be, that it was done with a
view of “bouncing,” or frightening us into submission. Such
proved to be the case; for Wilson, rising to his feet again,
addressed us as follows:—
“You see, men, that every preparation has been made to
send you to Sydney for trial. The Rosa (a small Australian
schooner, lying in the harbor) will sail for that place in the
course of ten days, at farthest. The Julia sails on a cruise this
day week. Do you still refuse duty?”
We did.
Hereupon the consul and captain exchanged glances; and
the latter looked bitterly disappointed.
Presently I noticed Guy's eye upon me; and, for the first
time, he spoke, and told me to come near. I stepped forward.
“Was it not you that was taken off the island?”
“It was.”
“It is you then who owe your life to my humanity. Yet this
is the gratitude of a sailor, Mr. Wilson!”
“Not so, sir.” And I at once gave him to understand, that
I was perfectly acquainted with his motives in sending a boat
into the bay; his crew was reduced, and he merely wished to
procure the sailor whom he expected to find there. The
ship
was the means of my deliverance, and no thanks to the benevolence
of its captain.
Doctor Long Ghost also, had a word to say. In two masterly
sentences he summed up Captain Guy's character, to the
complete satisfaction of every seaman present.
Matters were now growing serious; especially as the sailors
became riotous, and talked about taking the consul and the
captain back to the Calabooza with them.
The other judges fidgeted, and loudly commanded silence.
It was at length restored; when Wilson, for the last time
addressing us, said something more about the Rosa and Sydney,
and concluded by reminding us, that a week would elapse
ere the Julia sailed.
Leaving these hints to operate for themselves, he dismissed
the party, ordering Captain Bob and his friends to escort us
back whence we came.
